Base for time-controlled switches



May 24,1927. 1,629,591'

F. B. SOMERSTEIN BASE FOR TIME C IONTROLLED SWITCHES Filed May 4, 1925 Patented May 24, 1927.

FREDRIC'K B. 'SOMERST'EIN, 0F JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA.

BASE FOR TIME- XJNTROLLED SWITCHES.

Application filed May 4, 1925. Serial No. 27,721.

M3 invention consists of a new and simple time switch base and has for its main and particular object to provide a base wh ch. when installed in an electric circuit. ma he used in combination with a lock having a spring actuated metal lever arm for closing or breaking the circuit at a preoetermined time.

A further object is to so construct this device that. when two of same are connected in series in an electric circuit. one of said devices will close the circuit at a predeter mined time and the second device. which has reve sed contacts. will l)l-' {ii the circuit at another predetermined time.

A still further ohiect is to provide a t me switch have simple in constrnctimi. ot' tew parts. and inexpensive to manul'actnrc and install and in which an ordinary alarm clock may he used as the time element.

'lhcse and arions other ohiccts and ad vantag s will he clcarlv understood from the following); description and from the accompanvil'ig drawing of a prcterred cmhorhmcnt of my invention hut it will he readilv HPll that various modificat ons might he made without ijlepartim t'rom the scope of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a tront elevation ot' mv invention.

Fla. 2 is a rear elevation of same.

Fin. 2; is a cross-sectional side cle 'ation. taken on line 3-3 on Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a diagram showin; a certain appli ation ot my invention. drawn to a somcwhat smaller scale.

In a general way. the device may he lc scrihed as consisting of an annular ring. made of il'isnlatineg m terial. to whicl an alarm clock is atta hed and in which contact points. having terminals to receive wi res. are cmhcdded and a contact arm attached to the alarm winding" stem of the clock.

Referring now to Figs. 1. 2 and J). l is an ordinai"; alarm clock from wh ch the alarm hammer and gong have been removed. 12 i the winding stem of the alarm spring: and t is a metal contact arm rigidlv attached to the winding stem 2. The clock is atta h-rd h v means oi the slotted lugs t. to an annular ring: 5 in which are (lH iWitlt l the studa (3 which engage n the slots n these lugs. The annular ring 5. which cast ot an snitahle insulating material. is provided with two metal contact points 7 and Q.

The conta t point T is cin iediled in the ring 5 with one end located on the face of the ring and the other end extending downwardl and rearwaixiljv. ending in a tubular terminal 9 extending to the interior of the ring and to which an electric wire may he attached.

The contact point 8 is also embedded in the rim: .3 hut with the outer end slightly above the face of the ring so that, contact may he made on the under side of this portion. The other end extends downwardly and rearwm-dlv and ends in a tubular terminal it). likewise cxt'ent'ling to the interior of the ring. lloth contact points are provided with tongues or anchors. 11 and 12. to provide additional rigidity. This con-- structou is plainly shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The spring of the alarm mechanism is wound up hotore the contact arm is attached to the winding stem and this arm extends out *ardlv. through a slot in the clock case. and engages at all times one. or both. of the contact points. i

The device operates in the following manner:

The alarm ll'lQClltllllSlll is set, in the usual manner so that: it will operate at any desired time and the contact arm 3 is raised to its upper position. hen the time arrives, at which the alarm mechanism has been set to operate. the contact arm. actuated by the alarm spring. flies downward. making contact with hoth points 7 and 8 and closing the circuit. The movement ot the contact arm is limited by a lot in the clock case and is sulliciently rapid to prevent arcing. It will he noted that when the contact arm is raised to set the mechanism. the alarm spring is rewound. The device is made operative or inoperative at will by means of the release lever '13 which is a regular part of an alarm clock.

It will he noted that the means for fastening! the ('lOCh' l to the ring 5 are such that a slight twist will immediatel; disengage the clock for an v.de-ired purpose. such as wind ingr. set ing. etc.

The ahovc description ha shown the device as used to close an electric circuit. \Vhen it is desired to employ the device for ln'eahin; the circuit. a conta t point 8 is placed in the upper position and a contact point 7 is placed in the lower position. as shown on B in Fig. 4. In this case. when the contact arm 3 is in its upper position, it makes contact with hoth points and. when the predetermined time arrives, it; flies downward to its lower position and breaks the circuit.

Referring now to Fig. el, A. represents the device shown in Figs. 1, 2 aml 3 while B represents a similar device with the contact points rcversetl, as above described. \Vhen it is tlesiretl to automatically close the circuit at a prerleterminctl time and break the circuit at another predetermined time, llc vices A, and B are installetl in the circuit. as plainl shown.

This installation operates as follows: The alarm mechanism of the tlevicc A is set, in the usual manner, to operate at the time it is desired to close the circuit amt the cont act arm raisetl to its upper position, which breaks the circuit. The alarm mechanism of the device B is set, in the usual manner, to operate at the time it is tlcsirctl to open the circuit and the contact arm rai 'ctl to its upper position. which closes the circuit at this point. hen the first prctlcterminetl time arrives, the alarm mechanism of the clevice A operates and the contact arm fiics to its lower position, closing the circuit and allowing the current to flow through the Wire 14 until the time arrives at which the device B is set to operate. Then the alarm mechanism of the device It operates, the Contact arm flies to its lower position and breaks the circuit.

Having thus described my invcntion. what- 1 claim as new antl wish to protect by Let ters Patent is---- An annular apertureil member composed of insulation material mounterl on a conventional alarm clock. saitl alarm clock being provided with oppositely tlisposctl attaching pins, saitl member having oppositely (lisposetl slotted attaching lugx atlaptetl to cogage Sttltl pins, stationar; contacts on said ring, adapted to l)0 l)ll(l;1tti by a bridging contact, the latter being lllOtllltttl on the alarm arbor of saitl cloclo each of sai l contacts comprising a tubular current comluctor attaching portion, a contact portion aml an anchoring portion, saitl anchoring portion atlaptetl to be embedded in said ring.

h'ignetl at Jacksonville, in the county of Duval and State of Florida, this 29th day of April 1925.

FREDHICK B. SOMERSTE IN. 

